Above and Beyond

By Mr. Kenneth Drylie (IMCOM)October 10, 2007

Gen Colin Powell
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Tiki Barber
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Above and Beyond
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell is joined by Medal of Honor Society members Colonel (R) Lewis Howard, Michael Edwin Thorton, Paul William Bucha and Former NFL star Tiki Barber on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in W... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Above and Beyond
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell is joined by Medal of Honor Society members Colonel (R) Lewis Howard, Michael Edwin Thorton, Paul William Bucha and Former NFL star Tiki Barber on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in W... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced the establishment of the "Above and Beyond Citizen Honors" initiative in an early morning press conference here Tuesday.

Several members of the Medal of Honor Society were joined by retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell, and NFL great Tiki Barber as they made the announcement from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

The award is designed to honor ordinary citizens for extraordinary "Service before Self."

"What we want to do with this program is to illustrate how America has answered that call to gallantry in a civilian capacity and how it replicates and reflects the traditions, values and virtues of the Medal of Honor and the Medal of Honor Society" said Gen Powell, who along with former President George H.W. Bush will serve as Honorary Co-Chairman for the initiative.

The Society is asking the public to nominate their fellow citizens for the award. To be considered for the award, the nominee must have made a difference in the lives of others through a singular act of extraordinary heroism, or though their continued commitment to putting others before themselves.

One finalist will be selected from each of the 50 states, three of which will receive the award. "We are asking Americans to step forward, let us know about your neighbor, your fellow citizen, a member of your family, someone you just heard about who has done something so extraordinary above and beyond what they had to do, above and beyond the call of just being a good average citizen" said Gen. Powell

The award presentation will be live televised event at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. on National Medal of Honor Day, March 25th 2008.

"The event will feature our nation's leader's dignitaries, celebrities, musical performances and short documentary films that outline dramatic Medal of Honor recipient stories and remote performances by world renowned comedians, musicians and celebrities from remote venues such as Camp Victory in Baghdad Iraq", according to a Congressional Medal of Honor Society press release.

For more information visit <a href="http://www.aboveandbeyond365.com" target="_blank">www.aboveandbeyond365.com.</a>